As the leaves change and the weather gets cooler, there’s no better time to curl up on the couch with a steaming hot beverage and dive into books that can reshape the way you think about your career, passions, and goals. You don’t need to wait until the new year to get started on your resolutions. Fall is the time to turn a new leaf, literally and figuratively. It’s a time for growth, reflection, and, sometimes, a fresh start. I’ve curated a list of five must-read books, each offering unique insights into self-leadership, professional and team success, and personal fulfillment. Whether you’re a college grad just starting out or a seasoned professional looking to re-energize your goals, these books provide a roadmap for personal and professional transformation.
Top 5 Books for Personal and Professional Growth
1 – Leading Yourself by Elizabeth Lotardo
Lotardo outlines five of the most common reasons we dislike our work:
- Imperfect boss – Incompetent, not available or excessively micromanages.
- Weird economics – We’re on an austerity budget but the C-suite gets an office remodel.
- Lethargic coworks – Some people don’t want to be there and annoy those who are trying to get work done. (Read my Forbes article on how to deal with annoying coworkers).
- Annoying systems – Why do I need 16 characters in my new password? What’s with all the glitches and why is it so difficult to navigate?
- Too many deliverables – The reward for good work is more work. (Read my Forbes article on this topic).
So how do you work your way out of this spiral? Leading Yourself gives readers the tools to navigate challenges with resilience and purpose. Lotardo emphasizes that self-leadership isn’t a one-time achievement but a continuous practice that requires awareness and accountability. Her insights into mindset shifts and personal growth habits provide a powerful foundation for anyone looking to lead with confidence and clarity.
2 – What Lights You Up by Mary Olson Menzel
As an executive coach focusing on career pivots, Menzel knows a thing or two about how to find the job that makes you want to bounce out of bed in the morning. If recruiters only spend six seconds looking at your resume, and automated systems may reject your application if it’s in the wrong format, having a blueprint for a successful job search is critical. In What Lights You Up, Menzel explores a fundamental but often overlooked question: what truly makes us happy and fulfilled? She guides readers through the process of discovering their passion and aligning it with their daily lives and careers. Yet instead of looking at what’s obvious, she guides the reader through some adjacent career paths that may not have been on your radar. Menzel’s strategies are designed to help readers keep that light alive in their life and career. (Read my Forbes article on why you only need to meet less than half of what is listed in a job description).
3 – Become a Bookable Speaker by Christa Haberstock
For professionals eager to make an impact through keynote speaking, Haberstock’s Become a Bookable Speaker is an essential playbook. Written by the founder of the See Agency which represented some of the world’s top speakers, this book holds your hand through the step by step process of becoming a repeatable bookable speaker. Critical topics such as developing your brand, how to work with bureaus, clarifying your topic and ensuring it aligns with industry needs, and setting your fees are all expertly layed out in a manner that is supremely easy to digest. Haberstock’s experience in the speaking industry shines through as she unveils insider knowledge on what makes a speaker stand out and get booked.
4 – Getting from College to Career by Lindsey Pollak
If there is an expert on the multi-generational workforce then it is Lindsey Pollack. The newly revised edition of Getting from College to Career is a guide for navigating the early professional years, packed with actionable advice for new graduates entering the workforce. Pollak doesn’t shy away from the realities of the current job market but offers strategic steps for turning college experiences into career assets. From networking to interviewing skills, Pollak’s book is a goldmine of insights that help young professionals create opportunities and build a career they’re proud of. This book has a focus on Generation Z, navigating the hybrid work force and using AI tools responsibly. This book has the most up-to-date strategies to help Generation Z thrive and be productive members of the workforce.
5 – Mission Out of Control by Charles Camarda
Astronaut Dr. Charles Camarda flew to space on the return to flight mission following the Columbia disaster. While many who studied NASA focused on the lack of psychological safety, Camarda builds on this by shining a spotlight on the decreasing research culture which would have discovered anomalies and can prevent catastrophes in high risk/high reliability situations. In Mission Out of Control, Astronaut Camarda tells the story of his journey through one of NASA’s most challenging missions. This isn’t just an account of overcoming obstacles in space—it’s an exploration of resilience, innovation, and tenacity. With each page, Camarda reminds readers of the importance of courage in the face of adversity. His story serves as a powerful metaphor for anyone pushing their boundaries and navigating their own “mission” here on Earth.
Fall is the season of change. Let these books rekindle your passions as you tackle challenges with fresh eyes.
This post was originally published on here
